Court Hearing Reset for Jailer Accused of Taking Bribes

A pretrial hearing was postponed Tuesday for the Seal Beach city jail guard accused of taking bribes in exchange for letting visitors smuggle booze and other items to an inmate.

Jose Alday, 32, of Santa Ana, was arrested Christmas Day on suspicion of accepting bribes, possessing a controlled substance for sale and possessing drug paraphernalia. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held on $100,000 bail, according to the District Attorney's office and court records.

If convicted, he faces a maximum five years in state prison.

When he was busted, Alday had worked as a non-sworn officer at the Seal Beach City Jail for about four years, prosecutors said.

As prosecutors tell it, Alday took bribes on multiple occasions between July 1 and Dec. 25. On occasions when he was working alone, he allegedly let unsearched visitors bring prohibited contraband, including alcohol, to the inmate.

In exchange, Alday was allegedly paid off with money, an iPad, a cell phone, two leather jackets and other items. The inmate’s visitors delivered the bribes, prosecutors said.

The Seal Beach Police Department received a tip in December and began investigating. Alday was arrested Dec. 25 at work.

At the time of his arrest, he also had a "substantial amount" of anabolic steroids at the jail, prosecutors said. During a search of Alday's home, police found a used methamphetamine pipe, authorities said.